Sydney named Australia’s top city for cultural experiences

June 17, 2024

A newly released study has revealed which Australian cities have the most to offer in terms of cultural experiences - ranking Sydney at the top of the list.

The survey, from online language tutoring website Preply, compared Australia’s 50 largest metropolitan areas using eight different cultural metrics - number of cultural tours, hatted restaurants, cultural attractions, museums, theatre events, libraries, concerts and shows and markets.

Sydney claimed the top spot based on offering more cultural tours than any other city (66), more cultural attractions (54) and more museums (80). Sydney also offered 53 concerts and shows, presenting a diverse array of live entertainment options to enrich the cultural experience.

In terms of markets, Sydney tied with Brisbane - each playing host to 51 markets while the Queensland capital is also home to 35 libraries (more than any other city), with Melbourne having the highest number of theatres - 113.

In compiling the list, Preply consulted numerous resources including tourism websites, the Australian Good Food Guide and the National Library of Australia.

Australia’s 10 best cities for cultural experiences, per event count are:

1. Sydney - 535
2. Melbourne - 441
3. Perth - 244
4. Brisbane - 208
5. Adelaide - 205
6. Canberra - 174
7. Hobart - 105
8. Darwin - 102
9. Newcastle - 93
10. Cairns - 80

Commenting on the findings, Preply’s Sylvia Johnson advised “we are thrilled to highlight these incredible cities and their cultural offerings. Australia's cultural landscape is as diverse as it is vibrant, and we hope this campaign inspires people to explore and appreciate the rich cultural experiences each city has to offer.

“Our study revealed some surprising results, shining a light on the cities with some fantastic cultural attractions.

“Embracing a city’s culture and cultural experiences is not just about entertainment; it's a way to enrich our worldview, promote unity, and support the preservation and continuation of diverse cultural identities worldwide. What's more. engaging in local customs, traditions, and practices provides a context for linguistic nuances, idiomatic expressions, and vocabulary, thereby enhancing language acquisition.”

Click here to view The Top Australian Cities for Cultural Experiences study.

Image: Vivid Sydney drone show. Credit: Daniel Tran.

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